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The Journal provides live analysis of the AFC Championship between the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots. Commentary is led by Andrew Beaton, with contributions from Kevin Clark and Jim Chairusmi at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.

6:42 pm (EST)

Pregame

Andrew Beaton

Patriots-Colts.

It may not have the same ring to it as once upon a time, when that meant Manning versus Brady, but Brady versus Luck isn't too bad either.

If there's one guarantee between these two teams, it's that it will be high scoring: The last six games between Indianapolis and New England have averaged a total of 66 points, with the Pats averaging 40 of them.

The Journal provides live analysis of the NFC Championship between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks. Commentary is led by Andrew Beaton, with contributions from Jonathan Clegg at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.

2:31 pm (EST)

Pregame

Andrew Beaton

In Week 1, Seahawks-Packers didn’t live up to the hype. In Seattle, the Seahawks cruised to a 36-16 victory.

Since then? Seattle looked human to start the year, but its defense has looked unstoppable lately. They gave up seven or fewer points in five out of their last six regular season games, and beat the Carolina panthers 31-17 to reach here.

The Journal provides analysis of the College Football Playoff championship game between Oregon and Ohio State. Commentary is led by Andrew Beaton, with contributions from Jonathan Clegg and Ben Cohen at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

7:16 pm (EST)

Pregame

Andrew Beaton

Ohio State’s chances for a national championship were written off even before the season began, when starting quarterback Braxton Miller went down for the season. When they lost in their second game of the season, that served as confirmation. Then they built their resume back up again, only to have Miller’s replacement, J.T. Barrett, also go down injured before the Big Ten Championship game.

But somehow, with third-stringer Cardale Jones leading them to big wins against Wisconsin and then No. 1 Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinals, the Buckeyes are in the biggest game of the year. The only thing that stands in their way of winning the first College Football Playoff is the nation’s best offense led by the best player in the country.

Oregon has put together an incredibly impressive season, but perhaps nothing was more impressive than their systematic dismantling of the reigning champion Florida State Seminoles, 59-20, in the semifinals. They’re led by Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota, who is projected to be a top pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. And to think that nobody even really wanted him coming out of high school because recruiting from Hawaii can be so difficult.

More than anything, Oregon-Ohio State is a culture clash. The Ducks have mastered the new-age, no-huddle, fast-paced offense that defenses can’t seem to figure out. Ohio State is a traditional college football power, from the old-school Big Ten.

So how has Ohio State picked up the pieces this season after two separate injuries seemed like they had devastated the team’s hopes? It begins with head coach Urban Meyer, who won two national championships as the head coach of Florida. The past couple years, he has brought in a “leadership coach,” who teaches the Buckeyes that a successful reaction can be taught.

Ohio State may be the most valuable team in college football, surpassing Texas, but Oregon is the favorite in this one. Why? The easy answer is their unstoppable offense. But they also do something so extraordinary in football, it seems unbelievable: They don’t yell at each other.

Ducks head coach Mark Helfrich may not be as famous as his counterpart, Meyer, or even his predecessor, Chip Kelly. After all, he gained much of his experience in the illustrious football factory of… Austria. Yes, the European country, and no there isn’t a town named Austria in Alabama or Texas if that was your first, and probably most logical, instinct.

In recent years, Oregon is synonymous with innovation. Nike gives them the flashiest uniforms in football to match the most robust offense in the world, this side of Austria. But there is one thing old-fashioned and friendly about the Ducks: The mascot. They tried unveiling a new, more muscular creature in 2002 named Mandrake, but students turned on him and called him “Roboduck.” Their duck mascot, cleverly named “Duck” is still the team’s figurehead.

So what can we make of all of this? There’s no consensus. The esteemed Jonathan Clegg and Ben Cohen can’t even agree on who will win.

Perhaps the craziest aspect: This game was five years in the making, dating back to the 2010 Rose Bowl, a 26-17 victory for the Buckeyes. That was the last time these two teams met. Back then, Meyer coached at Florida and Mariota was a backup on his high school team.

Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines and Chris Algieri of the U.S. exchange punches on Sunday in Macau.

Getty Images

The Journal provides analysis of the boxing match between Manny Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 knockouts) and Chris Algieri (20-0, 8 knockouts). Gordon Marino offers commentary, with contributions from Will Davies on site at the Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena.

11:15 pm (EST)

Gordon Marino

Welcome to the Wall Street Journal blog of the Manny Pacquiao vs. Chris Algieri fight. The bout is taking place at the Venetian Macao’s Cotai Arena in Macau China.

It was that win that put Algieri on a trajectory for a mega bout with the Filipino icon.

For his bout with Provnikov, Aligieri pocketed around $100K; tonight Chris will earn in excess of $1.5 million. Pacquiao is guaranteed at least 20 million – and the tax structure in Macau is not nearly as taxing as Las Vegas – so the fighters will both be financial victors.

In the thrilling Provodnikov brawl, Algieri survived two brutal knockdowns in the first round. His right eye was soon completely closed, but he soldiered on, showing tremendous grit and poise and more than that-the ability to make adjustments in the heat of battle.

The difference between Provodnikov and Pacquiao is the Pacman’s dazzling footwork. When Pacquiao is on, he is a vapor, moving in and out and much more importantly, side to side – always firing multiple combinations from different angles.

In December 2012 Pacquiao was on his way to ko victory when he was put to sleep by a devastating right hand from Juan Manuel Marquez. Manny took some time off after that loss but then returned to throttle Brandon Rios and then, last year, to avenge his controversial loss to Tim Bradley with a unanimous decision.

Algieri has the edge in years. At 30 he is five years younger than his legendary opponent.

However, when it comes to experience, Pacquiao is in a different league. Pacquiao is a veteran of 63 fights – Algieri a mere 20.

More importantly, Pacquiao has been the big stage for years now. He has tussled with everyone, except, of course, Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao is a concussive puncher – and much to the chagrin of his trainer, Freddie Roach, Manny has not registered a knockout since he stopped Miguel Cotto in 2009. Manny will be looking for a ko tonight.

Algieri is a high volume puncher with superb lateral movement. There is little doubt that the slick but light punching Long Islander will be working to outbox Manny.

Algieri is almost four inches taller than Pacquiao and has a big advantage in reach. He has a quick and powerful left jab and he will attempt to keep Pacquiao at bay with that weapon.

As for the height issue, Pacquiao pounded both De La Hoya and Margarito and they were both a little taller than Algieri—of course, Margarito was also much slower than Chris—but I doubt the height will be a problem for Pacquiao – unless that biggest boxing opponent of all-TIME – has caught up with Pacquiao!

That is one of central questions – Does Pacquiao have too many miles on his boxing odometer? Has he slowed appreciably and lost some of his pop?

Pacquiao is a southpaw – which causes problems for some orthodox fighters but Algieri has fought and beaten five southpaws, so the fact that Manny is a lefty should not pose a serious issue for Algieri.

But again, a couple of big questions are to be answered tonight. Are we seeing the emergence of a new star in Algieri? Has Pacquiao’s sun set? Or is he back in the form that he was in when he trounced the likes of De La Hoya, Cotto, and Hatton? And then of course there is always the puzzle, will Pacquiao, who was named the Fighter of the Decade by the Boxing Writers Association of America, ever toe the line against Floyd Mayweather Jr.? Some scribes believe that if Pacquiao wins big tonight it will put pressure on Mayweather. Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, disagrees, he told me, “Mayweather is immune to public pressure. If he is going to fight Manny it will be when he detects some kind of deterioration in Pacquiao’s skills.”

Oct 26, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants fan Weston Johnson poses for a photo before game five of the 2014 World Series against the Kansas City Royals at AT&T Park. Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel/Reuters

Christopher Hanewinckel

The Journal provides live analysis of World Series Game 5 between the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals. Commentary is led by Andrew Beaton, with contributions from Daniel Barbarisi and Brian Costa at AT&T Park.

7:44 pm (EDT)

Andrew Beaton

Fifteen runs in Game 4, 11 by the Giants as they evened the World Series at two games apiece, looks like an offensive explosion at first glance.

But it hardly felt like it. Neither team hit a home run. There were only five doubles between Kansas City and San Francisco. So how did the Giants pull it out?

They drew six walks. While they only had three extra-base hits, they collected 16 total hits. Between that many hits and those walks, that's a whole lot of base runners. And while the back end of the Kansas City bullpen has been so highly touted--Herrera, Davis and Holland--San Francisco broke through against the pitchers that are supposed to lead up to them. The Royals led 4-1 before the Giants knocked around starter Jason Vargas, reliever Jason Frasor, and most notably lefty Brandon Finnegan.

So what's on top for Game 5? For the Royals, hopefully not a repetition of Game 1, the first time James Shields and Madison Bumgarner took the mound. In that 7-1 borefest that felt like it were over after the first inning, Shields gave up five runs in three innings. Bumgarner gave up one in seven. Shields, known as "Big Game James," now has a 7.11 ERA this postseason.

The good news for KC, is that if he can make it six innings with a lead, Herrera, Davis and Holland are all fully rested after getting the night off in last night's blowout. But getting a lead won't be easy against Bumgarner, who has a 1.40 ERA this postseason. Since the beginning of August, he's given up more than three earned runs in a start just once.

Sit back, get the last-channel button with the Sunday Night Football game all set, and stay tuned here for commentary, analysis, play-by-play, and the occasionally snarky remark. It's time for Game 5!

The scene outside AT&T Park as the Kansas City Royals take on the San Francisco Giants.

Reuters

The Journal provides live analysis of World Series Game 4 between the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals. Commentary is led by Andrew Beaton, with contributions from Daniel Barbarisi and Brian Costa at AT&T Park.

7:41 pm (EDT)

Andrew Beaton

If Royals fans were freaking out after their team dropped Game 1 of the World Series, they can be fully relieved now after the team stole one at AT&T Park on Friday.

Now, the pressure is on the Giants, who have lost two straight games and have failed to break through against the dominant trio at the back of the Kansas City bullpen: They're 1-for-28 against Herrera, Davis and Holland. So, at this point, if the Giants are trailing going into the 7th--they appear doomed. Indeed, last night the 6th inning proved pivotal. After that, it was over.

But don't expect this Giants team to go down without a fight. Posey, Sandoval--these are guys who have been here before and won.

Ryan Vogelsong takes the mound for San Francisco, after going 8-13 this season with a 4.00 ERA. People asked Bochy if he would consider starting ace Madison Bumgarner on short rest instead of Vogelsong, who has one good start and one poor one in the postseason. Against the Nationals, he gave up two hits and one run in 5.2 innings. But against St. Louis, he allowed four runs in three innings.

Vogelsong will face Jason Vargas, who has allowed three runs in 11.1 innings this postseason. The 31-year-old lefty had an 11-10 record and 3.71 ERA this postseason. There wasn't much of a question of if he were going to start tonight.

So turn off that college football, get your veggies from the AT&T Park vegetable garden and stay tuned here for analysis, commentary and humor from Game 4 of the World Series.

A general view of a statue of Willie Mays before Game 3 of the 2014 World Series at AT&T Park.

Reuters

The Journal provides live analysis of World Series Game 3 between the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals. Read the commentary by Andrew Beaton, with contributions from Daniel Barbarisi, Brian Costa and Kevin Helliker at AT&T Park.

7:45 pm (EDT)

Andrew Beaton

After the Giants and Royals split the first two games of the World Series in Kansas City, the series is headed for three straight in San Francisco.

That means a lot of things. Mainly, for you faithful live blog readers, it means that there will be less conversation about BBQ. We apologize in advance. But fear not: We will be talking about vegetables. After all, they’re grown fresh at AT&T Park.

But it actually means things for the baseball too. Primarily, it’s time to play by National League rules. There will be no designated hitter, and the Royals are one of a few American League teams with an old-school DH, one who plays almost every game there.

Kansas City, though, isn’t really ill-prepared to go to an NL park. In many way, in fact, they play are more NL-style of baseball than most teams in the NL. They bunt. They steal bases. They hit and run. They win with small ball and defense.

And while people may doubt the Royals’ chances now that they’ve already dropped a game at home, the fans are loving it.

Tim Hudson, in his 16th MLB season, takes the mound for the Giants in his first World Series appearance. This is his seventh postseason, but he has never reached the Fall Classic. After a hot start to the year, he cooled down but still finished with a respectable 3.57 ERA in 189.1 innings of work. He’ll face a fellow veteran righty, Jeremy Guthrie, who doesn’t blow people away, but keeps his team in games.

And if their weren’t many exciting managerial decisions to second guess in Game 1 and 2–ok, there were with Bruce Bochy’s decision to leave Strickland hanging in Game 2–welcome to the NL, where the manager gets to make real choices. Pinch-hit? Bunt? Mid-inning reliever? Trust Billy Butler in the field? Now this is when things get exciting.

Buster Posey sits in the dugout during batting practice prior to Game 2 of the World Series.

Getty Images

The Journal provides live analysis of World Series Game 2 between the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals. Commentary is led by Andrew Beaton, with contributions from Daniel Barbarisi, Brian Costa, Jason Gay and Kevin Helliker at Kauffman Stadium.

After a couple early threats that never materialized, Kansas City's bats fell silent, as did the previously boisterous Royals fans who are celebrating the team's first postseason berth in 29 years.

But let's be honest: The Royals were due for an off day. As Tommy Lasorda famously once said, "No matter how good you are, you're going to lose one-third of your games. No matter how bad you are, you're going to win one-third of your games." And Kansas City had just won eight games in a row against three of the best teams in baseball.

But the Royals can't afford to drop another game in front of their Kooky Kansas City Cats and head to San Francisco down 2-0. While Royals fans may find solace in the fact that they went down 2-0 the last time they won the World Series, this Giants team showed why it's so dangerous on Tuesday night: Elite pitching and experienced, savvy hitters in the middle of the order. Going down 2-0 before three straight games on the bay might be a death sentence.

Yordano Ventura will look to right the ship for the Royals, after posting a 3.20 ERA in his first full major-league season. He'll face Jake Peavy, who once he joined San Francisco midseason, posted a 2.17 ERA in 12 starts. He has a 1.86 ERA this postseason, but has only gone 9.2 innings in his two starts.

There's good news for Royals fans, though. Peavy has started at least 10 games against 15 different teams. Of those 15 teams, no team has hit him harder than Kansas City: He has a 4.97 ERA in 14 starts against them, and a 6.42 ERA in seven starts at Kauffman. And despite his good ERA this postseason, he has a brutal 7.03 ERA in seven career postseason starts.

So will the Giants swipe another game on the road en route to their third trophy in five years? Or can the Royals keep their dream alive? Join us for commentary, pictures, hot takes, cold takes, and hopefully something that'll make you laugh, and let's hope we see a more competitive fixture than last night.

The Journal provided live analysis of World Series Game 1 between the San Francisco Giants and the Kansas City Royals. Read the commentary by Andrew Beaton, with contributions from Daniel Barbarisi, Brian Costa, Jason Gay and Kevin Helliker at Kauffman Stadium.

7:33 pm (EDT)

Andrew Beaton

For the Kansas City Royals, making the playoffs seemed like it were enough of a fairy tale. After all, it had been 29 years since it last happened. And in the do-or-die wild-card game against the Oakland A's, it looked like that fairy tale was coming to an end--twice. They were down 7-0 after seven innings, and after rallying to send it to extras, trailed again in the 12th. They scored twice in the bottom half of the inning to keep their run alive, and they haven't stopped rolling since.

And it's not just that the city of San Francisco has banned playing Lorde's hit "Royals" on local radio stations. There's just something about this Kansas City team that seems to have rallied baseball's populists behind an unlikely contender. Maybe it's that the Royals don't have any stars--nobody on their team even had 75 RBI during the regular season. It could be that the team is filled top-to-bottom with homegrown players who Kansas City fans have seen develop. Perhaps it's manager Ned Yost, who seemingly defies modern wisdom at every turn but seems to be pushing all the right buttons when it's important.

While plenty of players on the Royals weren't even born the last time the team last played in the playoffs, the Giants are loaded with experience. Manager Bruce Bochy has already managed in three World Series. He has won the last two. Buster Posey was a star rookie when the team won in 2010, by 2012 he was the NL MVP. Pablo Sandoval was also around in 2010 and 2012, and won the World Series MVP. If experience matters, the Giants have a clear edge.

But there are no clear edges when it comes to October baseball. Every time it seemed like there was one this season, it pointed against Kansas City.

So sit back, get ready to second guess the managers, and enjoy the Fall Classic.

We are coming live to you from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The Sin City is hot this time of year and there is plenty of heat about this intriguing fight.

In their May 3rd tussle, Mayweather won a majority decision. One judge had it a draw, and the other two had Floyd winning by comfortable margins 117-111, 116-112.

Most of the boxing experts that sit alongside me at ringside had Floyd winning by a narrow margin – but believe me, it could have gone either way.

Many people feel as though the tough fight with Maidana, a small welterweight who was not exactly among the elite of the elite, having lost to the likes of Amir Khan and Devon Alexander, put in a nick in Floyd’s claims to ultimate greatness.

The highest paid athlete on the planet, “Money” Mayweather cares almost as much about his legacy as he does about money. And so, I suspect that he will be out to make a statement tonight against the tough “El Chino.”

Maidana will also have a lot to prove. After all, this is his biggest and last chance to break into history and into the super-sized paydays that only the Mayweathers and Pacquiaos enjoy these days.

It is literally the chance or rather the second chance of a lifetime. Imagine the pressure!

How will he respond? One thing I can say for certain, Maidana is not intimidated by Mayweather’s punching power. Actually, Maidana said that Broner hit him harder than Mayweather. And now that the Argentine brawler with the 80% ko ratio has already been on the big stage, he won’t have the same butterflies.

Maidana and his trainer, Robert Garcia, hinted that Maidana got a little overheated – a little too pumped up — in their first fight and that is in part why he ran out of gas in the later rounds.

The Maidana team promises that it won’t happen this time. They say he has had more than two extra weeks to train for this one and that he is going to come in lighter. In May, after Maidana made weight on the Friday before the fight, he blew up to 165 by the time of the first bell – as a result his body wore down as the fight wore on.

At the weigh-in yesterday, Mayweather came at 146.5 and Maidana at 146. The welterweight limit is 147. Both combatants are in prime condition.

In an unusual move, Floyd will be defending both his WBC welterweight and WBC & WBA super-welterweight title (154).

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The Daily Fix blog provides takes on the latest sports news. Features include The Count, a look at the most revealing sports stats, as well as regular live reports of major sports events. Go to the Journal’s sports page for up-to-date coverage on the latest in sports.

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About The Daily Fix

Jeremy Gordon is a freelance writer who lives in Chicago. He has written for TheAtlantic.com, MTV and Prefix and occasionally Tumbles and Tweets. The last time he cried was when Steve Bartman dropped the ball.

Jared Diamond writes about sports for The Wall Street Journal. He currently serves as a beat reporter covering the New York Mets and Major League Baseball.

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